Stories from Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tea Party introducing candidate for Senate(02/15/12)By Clint Confehr Senior Staff Writer The Marshall County Tea Party is going to introduce voters here to a woman who's challenging Tennessee's junior senator for the Republican nomination this summer. "Brenda Lenard is running against Bob Corker in the GOP Primary to run for the U.S. Senate," Sherry Ferguson said early this week. "She's an African-American conservative...

Hickey retires(02/15/12)By Clint Confehr Senior Staff Writer A milestone was placed, figuratively speaking, at East Commerce Baptist Church on Sunday when the reception line of well wishers started beyond the top of the staircase and came down to the Rev. James Hickey, his wife, Shirley, and son, Matthew...

Early voting starts today in GOP primary(02/15/12)From staff reports Early voting in the Super Tuesday GOP primary starts today with results to be announced March 6 when there might be a clear indication of which Republican will face President Obama in the Nov. 6 national election. Early voting will be conducted at the Marshall County Election Commission office at 230 College St. Suite 120, in the Hardison Office Annex, County Elections Administrator Tristan Arnold said. Early voting ends Feb. 28...

Accommodation sought for special needs children(02/15/12)By Karen Hall Staff Writer For the second time in two months, a parent has addressed school board members at their meeting, begging them to budget for a comprehensive development classroom at Forrest School. Both have children in the comprehensive development classroom (CDC) at Chapel Hill Elementary School...

Career criminal sentenced(02/15/12)By Karen Hall Staff Writer One of the longest sentences imposed in Marshall County Circuit Court since the start of the year went to a career criminal who committed a series of burglaries here in the fall of 2006. Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler gave Tony Eastep, 51, an effective sentence of 15 years, of which he must serve at least 60 percent before being eligible for a parole board hearing. ...

Poll workers reflect current job market(02/15/12)By Clint Confehr Senior Staff Writer Job security has become a concern for a number of Marshall County residents who've served as county-paid poll officials, according to the elections administrator here. Previously, unemployment was among the reasons area residents gave when applying to be poll workers, election officials have said. The labor market situation was revealed recently when the Marshall County Election Commission met...

Applicants sought for Celebration CEO job(02/15/12)From staff reports The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration search committee is looking for a new chief executive officer. The open position is because the current CEO, Dr. Doyle Meadows, announced his intention to resign two months ago. Meadows told the Celebration's board of directors last December that his tenure as CEO will come to an end in October, 2012, following this year's Celebration...

Two Rocket wrestlers qualify for state tournament(02/15/12)Forrest wrestlers Cage Hargrove and Spencer McGuiggan endured a long, grueling Region 5 Tournament in McMinnville over the weekend to earn a berth in the TSAA Division I State Tournament, beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Arena in Franklin.
Forrest head coach Josh Roberson said about the team's region tournament performance and the two qualifiers, "The region tournament went well overall, I wish we had a couple more to make that final match to go to state. But, to have the first two in five years to go is nice to finally have somebody going back and I am proud of both of these guys for putting the time and effort in to making it, and I proud of all the others for their effort."

Rockets' blitzkrieg overwhelms Tigers(02/15/12)The Forrest Rockets wasted no time disposing of a youthful Fayetteville squad in Saturday's District 9-A kick-off game at MTCS, orchestrating a devastating first-quarter blitzkrieg that carried them to a lopsided 67-27 win.
Forrest head coach Wes Hobbs said after the game, "The guys executed the game plan perfect and they came out with a fire tonight from the start and that is what we wanted to see. We had our shooters make some big shots tonight, which helps a lot and it was just an all-around good win."

Forrest axed by Viqueens(02/15/12)The Community Viqueens exorcised eight years' worth of pain Friday night at Middle Tennessee Christian School as they stunned the Forrest Lady Rockets 36-30 in the first round of the District 9-A Tournament.
The Viqueens' win over Forrest broke a 19-game losing streak, dating back to Jan. 30, 2004, and the first round district tournament loss had not happened to the Lady Rockets since the 2001-2002 season when they were axed in round one by Huntland in Chapel Hill.

Martin Methodist mourns passing of legendary coach Kermit Smith(02/15/12)PULASKI, Tenn. - A legendary figure in the story of Martin Methodist College for more than a half-century and a larger-than-life presence in junior college athletics in this region and beyond passed away Sunday night. Dr. Kermit Smith, who served as coach and director of athletics from 1950-1986 and continued his involvement in Martin Methodist until his final days, passed away on Feb. 12, 2012, at Maury Regional Hospital, where he had been admitted two days earlier...

Smith letting his fists do the talking(02/15/12)Sometimes you have to fight for the things you want. Lewisburg resident Brent Smith has recently tossed his hat into the growing ring of mixed martial arts (MMA) along with pursuing a career of boxing.
Incorporating elements of boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, taekwondo, judo, and other fighting styles, mixed martial arts has quickly grown in popularity over the last several years with the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) being the sport's most prominent organization.

Ena Marie Shelton Bradford(02/15/12)Ena Marie Shelton Bradford, 91, of Fayetteville. passed away Saturday morning, Feb. 11, 2012, at Donalson Care Center. A native of Lincoln County, she was the daughter of the late John R. and Burlie Steelman Shelton. Mrs. Bradford worked for the Lincoln County School Systems, and was a member of the Beech Grove United Methodist Church...

Christine V. Eady(02/15/12)Christine V. Eady, 83, of Chapel Hill, died Saturday morning, Feb. 11, 2012, in Columbia. Mrs. Eady was born in Marshall County and was a daughter of the late Malcolm Patterson and Bessie Viola Hardison Harris. She was a homemaker and was a former employee of Genesco Corp. of Chapel Hill. Mrs. Eady was a member of the Chapel Hill Church of Christ...

Mary Louise Haynes Blackwell(02/15/12)Mary Louise Haynes Blackwell, 86, of the Holts Corner Community, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Mary Louise was the daughter of the late George and Annie Cole Haynes. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Bob Blackwell, and an infant daughter...

Birdie Warren Coble(02/15/12)Birdie Warren Coble, 95, passed away on Sunday evening, Feb. 12, 2012, at her home in Village Manor in Lewisburg. Birdie was born in Scuba, Miss., the daughter of Felix Eugene and Birdie Morrison Warren. She was married for 61 years to W.H. "Bill" Coble Sr. who preceded her in death in 1999. Together, Bill and Birdie owned and operated the Lewisburg Western Auto Store for over 40 years, later retiring in Okeechobee, Fla., for 20 years, before returning to Lewisburg...

Steven Roy Snell(02/15/12)Steven Roy Snell, 58, of Chapel Hill, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, in Auburntown, Tenn. following a lengthy illness. Mr. Snell was born in Denver, Colo. and was a truck driver. He served in the United States Air Force during the Desert Storm campaign. Steven was a true man of God, a fabulous husband and a wonderful son and father...

William Allen Wise(02/15/12)William Allen "Bill" Wise, 87, of Hickory Street, Albertville, Ala., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2011, at Marshall Medical Center South. Mr. Wise was born near Lewisburg on Dec. 31, 1924. He was drafted into the Army while still in high school in 1943. He became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne division and was injured in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. ...

Crime Reports(02/15/12)Thefts and vandalism reported Arrested and charged with theft of property and underage consumption On Feb. 6, the two men were caught attempting to shoplift beer from the Dollar General Market. They admitted to Lewisburg Police Officer Jennifer McDonald that their intention was to "consume it and become intoxicated." They also told McDonald they had each drunk two 24-ounce beers before coming to the store...